Pradeep singh chaudhary

Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon: A cool breeze and a more-than-pleasant weather facilitated good running and the elite athletes made the most of it by setting course records and personal bests in the half marathon at the 12th Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon (VVMCM), held on Sunday. Touted as one of the best running events of the country, the event offered a prize money coffer of Rs 58 lakh.

With a timing of 2 hours 18 minutes and 19 seconds, Satara’s Kalidas Hirave missed the course record by a mere five seconds, but won the men’s marathon in style. Five seconds behind Hirave was his close buddy Pradeep Singh Chaudhary. Two-time winner, twice runner-up and course record-holder Mohit Rathore finished third with a timing of 2:19.06.

Hirave, who missed his personal best by five seconds, said, “I was uncertain to run here and had decided to train for the 42 km distance with a friend in Vasai. I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to run competitively.” He won Rs 3 lakh as prize money.